Chance selective racing game



Oct. 26, 1965 Filed May '7, 1963 W. WILLIAMS CHANCE SELECTIVE RA CINGGAME l l I 1 l I I l J 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.I.

INVENTOR. Walter Williams ATTO RNE'Y Oct. 26, 1965 w. WILLIAMS 3,214,172

CHANCE SELECTIVE RACING GAME Filed May 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l6, |6l6 l8 G/AZZ Q b 9 Q Q G W H8 14 Ms |4 I8 as I4 20 INVENTOR.

Walter Williams iZ/QW ATTORN E-Y 3,214,172 CHANCE SELECTIVE RACING GAMEWalter Williams, Fill Southside Ave, Freeport, FLY. Filed May 7, 1963,Ser. No. 278,689 '1 Claims. (or. 273-86) This invention relatesgenerally to amusement devices and more particularly to an electricalracing game apparatus adapted to accommodate one player if desirable ora plurality of players to the ends of amusement and competition.

Essentially, the apparatus include individual scoring areas arrangedupon a game board, each said scoring area having indicating lights orother suitable indicia controllable by switches which may or may notcause the energization of said indicia, the proper switch capable ofcompleting the proper circuit for energizing said nidicia being variablefrom play to play thus introducing the element of chance to the game.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice of the invention, the same being realised and attained by meansof the instrumentalities, constructions, arrangements, combinations, andimprovements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the circuitryincluding the elements comprising the combination according to thisinventon;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary View of the circuitry and a detailedillustration of the arrangement of the circuit selector mechanism andactuating means therefor and of the reset switch shown in normally openposition;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the circuit selector mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the circuit selector mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a side view taken along plane 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a top view taken along plane 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the game board and various componentsemployed therewith made in accordance with the present invention.

Consonant with the foregoing, the primary object of the invention is toprovide an electrical racing game apparatus having indicator meanswithin each scoring area, said indicator means being capable ofadvancement in increments upon selection of the proper control switch byindividual players.

Another object of the instant invention i the provision of means wherebythe advancement of said indicator means is cumulative, a play releasemechanism being additionally provided to deenergize all indicator meansupon completion of a game.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel circuitselector mechanism to vary, in a concealed manner, the control switchbutton to be actuated for achievement of advancement of said indicatormeans.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anelectrical game apparatus capable of being energized by conventionalhouse current and containing suitable transformer means enablingoperation of inexpensive solenoid mechanisms forming elements thereof.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a new anduseful electrical game apparatu accomplishing the objectives notedabove, which device is States Patent 0 of relatively simpleconstruction, economical of manufacture, and highly reliable inoperation.

It will be understood that the foregoing general objectives and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory butare not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE 1, a schematic Wir ing diagram of theelements of the present invention, and to FIGURE 7, the playing board ofthe apparatus, it will be appreciated that light indicators 2 arepositioned within individual scoring areas 4, said scoring areas beingdisposed in spaced parallel relation within surface 6 of the playingboard apparatus designated generally by numeral ltl. Further observed byreference to FIGURE 7 of the drawings are the cooperative relationshipamong circuit selector and complete play indicators 8 and 12,respectively, individual control switches 14, contact point buttons 16,18, reset button 20' and play release button 22, these elements beingdesignated in FIGURE 1 by like characters throughout and being operativein the manner described hereinbelow following.

As aforementioned, light indicators 2 disposed linearly of theindividual scoring areas 4, are successively and cumulativelyenergizable by the players upon selection of the proper button 16 or 18exposed surfacedly of control switch 14. The first player to succeed inenergizing all indicator lights in his respective scoring area isdeclared the winner.

With reference again to FIGURE 1, the preferred circuitry of the presentinvention is seen to include power source leads 24, 26 extending fromoutlet plug 28, voltage reducing transformer 34 progressive lightindicator energizing mechanism 32, play release solenoid 34, said button22 for energizing said play release solenoid, said indicator lights 2,said reset button 20, pairs of contact points 36 and 38 activatable bysaid reset button, cam 44 electric motor 42 drivingly associated withsaid cam (see FIGURE 2), contact points 44 activatable by said cam, saidcircuit selector indicator light 8, circuit selector mechanism 46, saidcontrol switch 14, contact points 48, 50, 52 and 54 activatable by saidcontact point buttons 16 and 13, circuit breaking solenoid 56, circuitclosing solenoid 58, contact points and 62 and. said complete play lightindicator 12.

In operation, depression of play release button 22 will actuate playrelease solenoid 34 to thus lift solenoid 64 of mechanism 32, therebydisengaging armature pawl 68 and contact ratchet 7d, the latter beingbiased in the direction of arrow '72 by the resilient force of tensionspring 74. Said conductor strip 8b is retained in contact withcontactors 82, 84, 86, 88, 9t), 92, 94 and 96 to cumulatively illuminatescores by well known means. Release of ratchet 70 will thereforedisconnect conductor strip 8i} with any of contactors 82, 84, 86, 88, 9t94 and 96 theretofore connected therewith.

To commence playing a game subsequent to activation of the play releasesolenoid, button 20 is depressed thus energizing motor 42 to causevibration of circuit selector mechanism 46 by cam 40, drivinglyassociated with said motor. By dint of said vibration, contact ball 76of said mechanism will be caused to shift between conductor walls 98 and100 while teetering upon edge 102 of conductor wall I-M disposedcentrally therebetween as shown in detail in FIGURES 3-6 of thedrawings. The action of cam 40 will further effectuate oscillation ofcontact points 44 to cause flickering of circuit selector indicatorlight 8, said flickering being indicative that the game apparatus isbeing activated for the next play to be made. Release of reset button 20will cause momentary closure of contact points 36 due to release ofenergy of compression spring 37, and temporary energization of circuitclosing solenoid 58 whereupon armature 1% thereof will be caused to movein the direction of arrow 108, end 110 of said armature actingdownwardly against projection 112 of armature 114 causing closure ofcontact points 62. Upon restoration of button 20 to the normal positionshown in FIGURES l and 2, contact points 36, 33 will be in open positionand spring 39 will move armature 106 away from projection 112.Simultaneously with such occurrence, circuit selector indicator light 8,and motor 42 will be deenergized, circuit selector mechanism 46 therebyceasing to vibrate. Accordingly, contact ball 76 will have assumed aresting position causing contact between either conductor walls 98 and104- or between conductor walls 160 and 104, either of the alternatecircuits passing between contact points 48 or 50 being completed.

It will, then, be observed that depression of contact button 16, whichresults in closure of contact points 48, will energize solenoid 64inasmuch as the circuit between conductor walls 98 and 104 is completed,contact ball 76 being interposed continuously therebctween as shown inFIGURE 1. In accordance with the foregoing it will be appreciated thatthe circuit completed by said circuit selector mechanism 46 isnon-predetermined, the final position of said contact ball 76 for eachplay or depression of reset button 20 being one of chance, thepossibility rate of alternate positions assumable thereby being 50percent one or 50 percent the other. Depression, there fore, of contactbutton 16 will, therefore, cause energization of solenoid 64 withconsequent movement of armature 68 in the direction of arrow '78,carrying ratchet 7t) therewith, contact between conductor strip 80 andcontactor 82 being accomplished to thus cause energization of light 2connected to said contactor 82.

The act of depressing contact button 16 will further close contactpoints 52 to thus energize circuit breaking solenoid 56 to move armature114 in the direction of arrow 116 to thus open contact points 62 andclose contact points 60. It will accordingly be apparent that withcontact points 62 open, subsequent depression of contact point button'16 will not cause further energization of solenoid 64. Upon closure ofcontact points 60, complete play indicator light 12 will be energizedindicating the termination of that playi It will be further noted thatdepression of button 18, although failing to energize solenoid 64, willenergize circuit breaking solenoid 56 by reason of closure of contactpoints 54, thereby precluding further play by depression of button 16thereafter. Energization of complete play indicator light 12, similarlyas if button 16 were originally depressed, will be accomplished.

It will be realized that the circuit illustrated in FIG- URE 1 of thedrawings contemplates the utilization of one control switch 14.Obviously, however, one each control switch, circuit selector mechanism,circuit breaking solenoid and progressive light indicator energizingmechanism is required for each player involved, the circuitry requiredbeing multiples of, although typical of the circuit described andillustrated hereinabove.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the circuit selector mechanism and the indicator means in thescoring areas, e.g., being contemplated in other suitable forms, thecontinuation thereof and mode of operation, which generally statedconsist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, asdisclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical racing game apparatus comprised of a game board havingat least one individual scoring area therein, a plurality of lightindicators Within said scoring area, a circuit including a circuitselector mechanism having alternate circuit completing positions,actuating means for non-predeterminably closing one of said alternatecircuit positions of said circuit selector mechanism, a control switchincluding two pairs of contact points, a progressive light indicatorenergizing mechanism activatable by closure of a pair of said contactpoints in circuit with the circuit completed by said circuit selector, acircuit breaking solenoid having an armature activatable upon closure ofsaid control switch, a circuit closing solenoid, the armature of whichis engageable with the armature of said circuit breaking solenoid tothereby close the circuit including said circuit selector mechanism, aplay release solenoid, reset means for simultaneously actuating saidcircuit selector mechanism and said circuit closing solenoid, and acircuit selector indicator light adapted to flicker during actuation ofsaid circuit selector mechanism.

2. An electrical racing game apparatus comprised of a game board havingat least one individual scoring are therein, a plurality of lightindicators within said scoring area, a circuit including a circuitselector mechanism having alternate circuit completing positions,actuating means for non-pretederminably closing one of said alternatecircuit positions of said circuit selector mechanism, a control switchincluding two pairs of contact points, a progressive light indicatorenergizing mechanism activatable by closure of a pair of said contactpoints in circuit with the circuit completed by said circuit selector, acircuit breaking solenoid having an armature activatable upon closure ofsaid control switch, a circuit closing solenoid, the armature of whichis engageable with the armature of said circuit breaking solenoid tothereby close the circuit including said circuit selector mechanism,reset means for simultaneously actuating said circuit selector mechanismand said circuit closing solenoid, and a play release solenoid,actuation thereof effectuating deenerg-ization of said indicatinglights.

3. An electrical racing game apparatus comprising in combination, a gameboard having at least one individual scoring area therein, indicatingmeans within said scoring area, a circuit including a circuit selectormechanism having alternate circuit completing positions, actuating meansfor non-predeterminably closing one of said alternate circuit positionsof said circuit selector mechanism, a control switch including two pairsof contact points, a progressive indicating means energizing mechanismactivatable by closure of a pair of said contact points in circuit withthe circuit completed by said circuit selector, a circuit breakingsolenoid having an armature activatable upon closure of said controlswitch, a circuit closing solenoid, the armature of which is engageableWith the armature of said circuit breaking solenoid to thereby close thecircuit including said circuit selector mechanism, a play releasesolenoid, and reset means for simultaneously actuating said circuitselector mechanism and said circuit closing solenoid.

4. An electrical racing game apparatus according to claim 3, whereinsaid indicating means comprises a plurality of light bulbs within saidscoring area, said light bulbs being energizable cumulatively uponactuation of said progressive indicating means energizing mechanism.

5. An electrical racing game apparatus comprised of a game board havingat least one individual scoring area therein, a plurality of lightindicators within said scoring area, a circuit including a circuitselector mechanism having alternate circuit completing positions,activating means for non-predeterminably closing one of said alternatecircuit positions of said circuit selector mechanism, a control switchincluding two pairs of contact points, a progressive light indicatorenergizing mechanism activatable by closure of a pair of said contactpoints in circuit with the circuit completed by said circuit selector, acom lete play light indicator activatable by said control switch, acircuit breaking solenoid having an armature activatable upon closure ofsaid control switch, a circuit closing solenoid, the armature of whichis engageable With the armature of said circuit breaking solenoid tothereby close the circuit including said circuit selector mechanism, acircuit selector indicator light, and reset means for simultaneouslyactivating said circuit selector indicator light, said circuit selectormechanism and said circuit closing solenoid, said complete playindicator light being deenergized upon activation of said circuitclosing solenoid.

6. An electrical racing game apparatus according to claim 5 wherein saidactivating means comprises a motor driven cam adapted to vibrate saidcircuit selector mechanism to cause completion of one of said alternatecircuit positions, the circuit completed being non-predetermined.

7. An electrical racing game apparatus comprised of a game board havingat least one individual scoring area therein, a plurality of lightindicators within said scoring area, a circuit including a circuitselector mechanism having alternate circuit completing positions,activating means for randomly closing one of said alternate circuitpositions of said circuit selector mechanism, a control switch includingtWo contact buttons, each contact button having first and second pairsof contact points associated therewith, said pairs of contact pointsbeing successively closable upon actuation of a respective contactbutton, a progressive light indicator energizing mechanism acti vatableby closure of said first pair of contact points of the contact button incircuit with the circuit completed by said circuit selector, a completeplay light indicator activata-ble upon actuation of either of saidcontact buttons, a circuit breaking solenoid having an armatureactivatable upon closure of said control switch, a circuit closingsolenoid, the armature of which is engageable with the armature of saidcircuit breaking solenoid to thereby close the circuit including saidcircuit selector mechanism, a circuit selector indicator light, andreset means for simultaneously activating said circuit selectorindicator light, said circuit selector mechanism and said circuitclosing solenoid, said complete play indicator light being deenergizedupon activation of said circuit closing solenoid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,707,859 4/29Johnson 273-86 2,180,448 11/39 Williams 273-862 2,526,215 10/50Florimont 273-86 2,627,411 2/53 Bartlam et al. 273-86 2,671,662 3/54Carpenter et al. 273-86 2,693,962 11/54 Stevens 273- RICHARD C. PINKHAM,Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRICAL RACING GAME APPARATUS COMPRISED OF A GAME BOARD HAVINGAT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL SCORING AREA THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF LIGHTINDICATORS WITHIN SAID SCORING AREA, A CIRCUIT INCLUDING A CIRCUITSELECTOR MECHANISM HAVING ALTERNATE CIRCUIT COMPLETING POSITIONS,ACTUATING MEANS FOR NON-PREDETERMINABLY CLOSING ONE OF SAID ALTERNATECIRCUIT POSITIONS OF SAID CIRCUIT SELECTOR MECHANISM, A CONTROL SWITCHINCLUDING TWO PAIRS OF CONTACT POINTS, A PROGRESSIVE LIGHT INDICATORENERGIZING MECHANISM ACTIVATABLE BY CLOSURE OF A PAIR OF SAID CONTACTPOINTS IN CIRCUIT WITH THE CIRCUIT COMPLETED BY SAID CIRCUIT SELECTOR, ACIRCUIT BREAKING SOLENOID HAVING AN ARMATURE ACTIVATABLE UPON CLOSURE OFSAID CONTROL SWITCH, A CIRCUIT CLOSING SOLENOID, THE ARMATURE OF WHICHIS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE ARMATURE OF SAID CIRCUIT BREAKING SOLENOID TOTHEREBY CLOSE THE CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID CIRCUIT SELECTOR MECHANISM, APLAY RELEASE SOLENOID, RESET MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTUATING SAIDCIRCUIT SELECTOR MECHANISM AND SAID CIRCUIT CLOSING SOLENOID, AND ACIRCUIT SELECTOR INDICATOR LIGHT ADAPTED TO FLICKER DURING ACTUATION OFSAID CIRCUIT SELECTOR MECHANISM